Pneumatic cleaner for locomotive sand pipes



June 2, 1942. L. DECKER I 2,284,805

PNEUMATIC CLEANER FOR LOCOMOTI'VE SAND PIPES Fil ed Oct. 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fI/IIIIIA 1 Inventor flanard 196/392 M A no me L. DECKER June '2, 15342;

PNEUMATIC CLEANER FOR LOCOMOTIVE SAND PIPES Filed Oct. 20, 1941 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jeane rd .zbc'er Attarney Patented June 2, 1942 arse ore-"ice PNEUMATEO CLEANER FOR LGCOMOTIIVE SAND PIPES Leonard Decker, Cincinnati, Ohio Application October 20, 1941, Serial No. 415,819

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic cleaners for blowing out clogged sand pipes of locomotives. 7

By way of explanation, the sand boxes, or domes, of locomotives are frequently equipped with a type of sand trap having a discharge nipple to which the sand pipes are connected by means of a fitting extending from the nipple and having a closure plug.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simply constructed, easily applied, device for connecting an air pressure line to the fitting of such traps so as to by-pass air from the line through the fitting directly into the sand pipes and thereby blow the same clean without detaching the sand pipes or disturbing the connection of the fitting.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claim are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation illustrating my improved pneumatic cleaner applied,

Figure 2 i a view in longitudinal section drawn to an enlarged scale and showing the connection TV to the air line.

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure dis a view in perspective of the nozzle member detached, and

Figure is a view in perspective of the plug and the rod to which the plug is attached, together with parts carried by the rod.

Reference being had to the drawings by numerals, the particular type of sand trap with 4 which my invention is concerned is best shown in Figure 1, the numeral I designating the discharge nipple extending from the sand box, or dome, 2, and 3 the fitting which is of the Y type having its main portion axially threaded onto the nipple I, and an angular outlet side 4 in which is threaded the discharge line 5-to the sand pipes, not shown. The main portion'of the fitting 3 is adapted to be opened at its outer end by re moval of a screwplug, not shown. I

According'to my invention, an air nozzle is proturning into the fitting 3, an intermediate externally threaded portion 8 and an integral nut sand pipes, as will be clear.

portion 9 on its rear end. The sleeve 6 is provided with a reduced front bore Hi through which is. slidably extended, with a working fit, an elongated tubular air distributing nozzle member II relatively longer than the sleeve 6 and provided with an enlarged front end head I2 axially bored as at I3. Radial air discharge ports I4 are provided in the nozzle member I I in the rear of the head I2. An axially bored packing nut I5 fitting over the rear end of the nozzle member II and threadedinto the rear end of the sleeve 6 confines packing It in the sleeve around said nozzle member. An elbow coupling I'I threaded onto the rear end of the nozzle member [I provides for connecting the same, as at It, to the usual valved air nozzle I 9 on one end of an air pressure line 2% connected at its other end, as at 2|, to a condensation drain cook 22 at the bottom of the usual air compressor indicated conventionally at 23.

A forwardly tapered valve plug 25 of the proper size to fit into and close the nipple I is provided at the front end of the nozzle member ll, said plug having a rear. circumferential stop flange 25. The plug 24 is suitably connected, as indicated at 26, to the front end of a slide rod 21 extending into the front end of the nozzle member I! by way of the bore I3. Within said nozzle member II, a coil spring 28 is sleeved onto the rod 21. A pair of jam nuts 29 and an intermediate Washer 36 on the rear end of the rod 21 confine the spring 28 on said rod.

Referring now to the use of the described air nozzle, assuming the same to be attached to the air line 20 in the mannerset forth, the plug 24 and front end of the nozzle member II are inserted into the fitting 3 and, in the present instance, the reduced end portion I of the sleeve 6 turned into said fitting. The nozzle member II is then pushed inwardly of said sleeve and fitting, as by means of the nozzle I9. In this operation, the head I2 abuts the connection 26 and forces the plug 24 into the outer end of the nipple I thereby closing said nipple. Upon opening of the line 20 from the compressor 23, by means of the nozzle I9,-the air is discharged from the nozzle member II by way of the ports I 4 and into the discharge line '5, thereby thoroughly cleaning the To remove the air nozzle, the nozzle member II may be pulled outwardly of the sleeve 6, the head I2 picking up the rod 21 through the medium of the spring 23 and said spring thereby functioning as a cushioning member for preventing breaking of parts.

In this operation, the plug 24, a will be clear, is

pulled out of the nipple I. The sleeve 6 may then be unscrewed from the fitting 3 and the latter closed in the usual well known manner.

The threaded portion 8 provides for attaching the sleeve 5 to a larger size fitting 3 should occasion require.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claim.

What I claim is:

An air nozzle for injecting air from a pressure line into a fitting having a nipple atone end thereof, said nozzle comprising an externally threaded sleeve for turning into the other end of said fitting, a tubular nozzle member for insertion into said fitting, said member having a centrally apertured front end head and air discharge ports in the rear of said head and being slidable in said sleeve for movement of said front end back and forth in said fitting, a tapered plug at the front end of said nozzle member for movement into said nipple under sliding of said nozzle member in one direction to close the nipple in advance of said member, and means to slidably mount said plug on said member whereby under sliding of the member in the opposite direction said plug may be moved out of said nipple, said means comprising a plug carrying rod slidable in said aperture and extending into the member, a fixed abutment on the rod within the member, and a coil spring on said rod confined between said head and said abutment.

LEONARD DECKER. 

